North Park has served five generations of students and continues to grow in diversity, academic relevance, and Christian commitment. Our Chicago location is a great asset that reflects the School鈥檚 global reach and outlook.
After 125 years, we鈥檝e learned how to streamline the process of helping qualified applicants seek admission to North Park and find affordable ways to attend. If you don鈥檛 see what you鈥檙e looking for on our website, please contact us directly!
North Park offers more than 40 graduate and undergraduate programs in liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies. Classes average 17 students. 84% of our faculty have terminal degrees. Academics here are rigorous and results-oriented.
North Park Theological Seminary prepares you to answer the call to service through theological study, spiritual development, and the formative experiences of living in a community with others on a similar life path.
The Office of Alumni Engagement fosters lifelong connections by engaging alumni with the university and one another in activities, programs, and services that support the university鈥檚 mission and alumni needs.
Bobby Broom to Present Master Class January 15 at 萝莉社
Broom’s latest album, My Shining Hour, a collection of musical Americana, is currently number three on the JazzWeek charts.
Jazz guitarist to reflect on the cultural phenomenon of jazz
Editor's note: The Bobby Broom Trio's master class will take place Thursday, January 15, 2015, at 2:30 pm in 萝莉社's Anderson Chapel. This event was originally scheduled for October 16.
CHICAGO (October 9, 2014) — When the audience sits down for jazz guitarist master class on Thursday, January 15, they will learn about more than intricacies of the rhythm and sounds of jazz music.
“I don’t believe the average person knows much about jazz, and why it is so crucial to American culture in the last century,” says Broom, a practitioner faculty member in 萝莉社’s . “Jazz historically was a culmination of cultural phenomena, with the phenomenon of the Africans winding up here and having to reconcile with European tools, including music. Jazz is the music born of America and its circumstance, and was the popular music for a quarter of a century. As a musical style, it has informed and been a linchpin to most other popular music styles subsequent to it.”
Broom along with his band, the Bobby Broom Trio, will teach a master class that will also include a question and answer time with the artists about their careers and the particular experience of being a jazz musician. The master class, which is free and open to the public, is a tradition in music education, where artists are invited to perform and share insights behind their particular craft. Broom’s class is an opportunity for students, particularly from North Park’s undergraduate and , to interact with the performers and reflect on their own musical development.
It is one of three master classes on North Park’s campus this year; other sessions include Swedish pianist Niklas Sivelov on November 11, 2014, and German pianist Alexander Schimpf on March 5, 2015. "Master classes are a wonderful opportunity for North Park students to interact with a wide range of musical artists in the Chicago area, from symphony and opera performers, to jazz musicians, such as Bobby Broom," says , dean of the School of Music.
An internationally recognized recording artist and respected jazz educator, Broom acquired his knowledge and skill by working with many of the 20th century's leaders in the field of jazz, including Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Stanley Turrentine, and fellow guitarist Kenny Burrell, among others. He has performed worldwide in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall and Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland, to the famed Village Vanguard and Birdland jazz clubs in New York City. Broom received his master’s degree in jazz pedagogy from Northwestern University and has taught and lectured worldwide, including at North Park since 2011.
“What attracted me to jazz music was how comprehensive it is,” says Broom, who just released his 11th studio album, My Shining Hour, which is currently number three on the JazzWeek charts. “Since I was very young, I was an avid radio listener. And when I heard jazz, it struck me as containing every other thing I heard in music prior to that. I was awash in musical possibility and the freedom with which this person playing was able to express themselves.”
Broom formed the Bobby Broom trio, which includes Dennis Carroll (left) and Makaya McCraven (right) back in 1991.
For Broom, jazz quickly became about more than music. “I later learned that jazz also has this rich and meaningful history in the African American experience, and that it is part of my heritage. I didn’t pick it because of that history, but maybe some strain spoke to me subconsciously before I knew anything about it.”
Broom has been teaching master classes since his early 20s, when he began teaching at the University of Hartford, not far from his New York City hometown. “One thing teaching has always done is to keep me on my toes,” Broom says. “I have to look at myself in different ways, and figure out how to impart knowledge to a variety of personalities. Everyone is different, including how he or she understands and processes information. I have to be a jazz musician and use my expertise of improvisation in order to find creative and effective ways to impart my knowledge.”
That sense of improvisation, and the ability to work with different personalities, is also vital to Broom’s work with the Bobby Broom Trio, which includes Dennis Carroll on bass and Makaya McCraven on drums. “Jazz at its best is a collective art form,” says Broom, who formed the trio in 1991 with Carroll as an original member. “There are rules to what we do—musical rules and rules of etiquette, a lot of times unspoken. How you grade your own personal performance should be integrated with how you grade your ability to accompany, or support, or blend with your fellow musician. It requires a lot of listening and split-second decision-making that is not really of a conscious nature. That’s the difficulty in jazz. There are a number of things we need to learn, but it’s sometimes difficult to talk about. The best way to learn is by performance.”
To learn more about Bobby Broom, the Bobby Broom Trio, and the cultural phenomenon of jazz music, join us on Thursday, January 15, at 2:30 pm in Anderson Chapel (rescheduled from earlier date).
Directions
Parking for this event will be available in the University lot at the corner of Foster and Kedzie avenues.
Fall Tour Unites Audiences with "Songs of Love and Loss"
North Park's University Choir and Chamber Singers perform on and off campus throughout the year.
University Choir and Chamber Singers to tour Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan October 17–19
CHICAGO (October 3, 2014) — Dr. Julia Davids has always believed in the power of music to bring people together. “Two of the most notable human experiences are love and loss,” she says. “For centuries composers have been compelled to express these intense emotions through song.” Given this core human condition, Davids says, these themes can easily unite us, and musical works help us find areas of commonality and resolution. “We might not all agree on many things, but we all know what it feels like to love and to lose someone we love.”
For Davids, 萝莉社’s , selecting “Songs of Love and Loss” as the theme for this fall’s University Choir and Chamber Singers tour wasn’t a difficult decision. “There is so much music that fits under the umbrella of ‘Love and Loss,’” she says. “For this tour program, we have endeavored to bring together some of the finest standard choral works as well as some newer additions to the canon. There’s a wide variety of music and emotions that the choirs get to display.”
The tour repertoire includes pieces that will appeal to attendees of all ages, from the high school students the University choirs will be working with, to the retirement community residents the choirs will perform for. The University Choir and Chamber Singers will tour Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan over Fall Break, performing at three churches, Covenant Village of the Great Lakes, and LaPorte High School.
“We always enjoy getting to share our music with other communities,” says Davids. “I try to include music that may be familiar as well as something that will stretch both the audience and the performers,” she says about tour programming. “For this tour, new music meets old, with lots of gorgeous singing and emotional understanding.”
More than 40 North Park students will participate in the tour, representing the University’s and music programs. “I'm very much looking forward to highlighting the wonderful student singers as well as cellist Francisco Malespin, who will play with a new song cycle called Snow Angel,” Davids says. Pianist Cristina Wilkinson Salamea will also join staff accompanist Myron Silberstein on selected pieces.
According to Davids, the five-movement Snow Angel “weaves together stories of love and light, rebirth and rejuvenation, through song and narration.” Written by emerging Canadian composer Sarah Quartel in 2003, the piece “highlights the strength and beauty that a child’s voice can bring to our often-troubled world,” she says.
The University Choir performs alongside Minnehaha Academy students at Bethlehem Covenant Church during last spring's tour to Minnesota.
“Sacred love—the love of God—is at the center of much great choral music,” Davids says. Whether written for church use (such as pieces by Bach and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina) or as concert pieces (like those by Ola Gjeilo and Hall Johnson), the program’s featured selections reflect the natural expression of love for God through singing. “We have also included two sorts of pieces that communicate love for each other.” Works by Brahms, Georges Bizet, and James Mulolland feature poetry about romantic love set to music, while songs by John Tavener and Daniel Gawthrop can ease the experience of losing a loved one.
To close the performances, the choirs will invite alumni and those connected to the University community to join in singing “Children of the Heavenly Father.”
The choirs will begin their tour in Indiana on October 17 with clinics for choral students at LaPorte High School. “Dr. Davids generally conducts workshops by having North Park and high school students sing together and work on vocal technique, her area of specialty,” says School of Music Director of Operations . “Mostly what happens is that Julia works her magic! Our students will then sing for LaPorte, and the LaPorte choir may sing for our students in a ‘concert exchange.’”
On October 19, the choirs will participate in two worship services at Forest Park Covenant Church in Muskegon, Mich., the home church for many 萝莉社 and students. Last August, the University Alumni Association hosted an event in Grand Rapids, Mich., at which Malespin gave a cello performance. He connected with alumni who attend Forest Park, providing a catalyst for retunrning to it as a destination on the fall tour. Representatives from the will be available at each tour performance to connect with alumni.
Performances are free and open to the public:
Friday, October 17, 7:00 pm, at Harbert Community Church, Sawyer, Mich.
Sunday, October 19, 9:30 and 11:15 am, at Forest Park Covenant Church, Muskegon, Mich.
Sunday, October 19, 6:00 pm, at Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Dr. Klyne Snodgrass converses with a colleague in his Nyvall Hall office in 1983. Courtesy of Covenant Archives and Historical Library, 萝莉社, Chicago
Dr. Klyne Snodgrass to be honored with a Festschrift at Seminary's annual Symposium
Chicago (September 25, 2014) — For more than four decades, most students’ first class at has been New Testament I with Dr. Klyne Snodgrass.
“I view my task as helping people bridge from a college degree into the theological world,” says, a few weeks into his 41st and final year full-time at North Park. “We throw them into the deep end of the pool pretty quickly. I want them to be able to be at home in any theological discussion, to take them to a level most of them haven’t even thought about, and to introduce them to a quite technical world of New Testament studies. That’s my job; I’m a bridge person.”
Snodgrass has been building bridges throughout the academic world, the global church, and within the North Park community since his arrival in 1974. “I was very young and green,” Snodgrass says, having come to North Park after teaching for only a year at Georgetown College in Kentucky. “When I came here I knew I was moving to a different level and I had to work very hard. I was the age of most of the students. It was hard work, but a lot of fun.”
, dean of North Park Theological Seminary, is among the long list of church leaders to have studied with Snodgrass over the years. “When he came here, it was North Park College and Theological Seminary, and there weren’t a lot of PhDs across campus. He’s seen the huge trajectory of academic growth within the Seminary. He is, in some ways, the anchor to that.”
Festschrift
“There is one thing I learned a long time ago,” Snodgrass says. “When people ask the question, ‘What makes a good teacher?’, the answer is good students. If you have good students, you cannot fail.”
One of Snodgrass’s students, who credits him for “the confidence to go on for a doctorate,” is Dr. Rebekah Eklund, assistant professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland. Eklund, along with , senior professor of theological studies at North Park, are the co-editors of a Festschrift—a collection of scholarly essays in honor of a long and distinguished career—written in honor of Snodgrass.
Dr. John E. Phelan Jr., right, surprised Dr. Klyne Snodgrass during last Spring’s Seminary Commencement with the announcement of the forthcoming Festschrift, presenting him with a framed cover of the book. The complete book will be presented to Snodgrass at this year's Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture.
Snodgrass’s career includes his widely regarded , a pillar in the study of the parables of Jesus. The Festschrift, titled Doing Theology for the Church, is divided into five sections organized around Snodgrass’s major research interests: Gospels and parables; Paul; inner-biblical interpretation; women and ministry; and identity. “The contributors are colleagues and former students,” Eklund adds. “Klyne is one of those rare scholars who is equally admired among serious New Testament scholars and pastors. He has been able to build a bridge between those two worlds. “
The collection will be given to Snodgrass at this year’s , September 25–27 at North Park Theological Seminary. Snodgrass has coordinated the Symposium for years, and plans to continue to do so after his retirement. This year’s Symposium, “The Human Encounter with God,” discusses among other things “what happens when a person realizes that he or she has encountered God,” Snodgrass says.
“The Symposium is an attempt to get academics that are committed to the church to do theology for the church from Scripture,” Snodgrass says. “We try to get academics from various church traditions, including Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal, mainline, evangelical, Roman Catholic, and others. As long as they’re committed to Scripture and the church, they’re our kind of people. We’ve had some knock-down drag-outs, people in heated debates with each other, and sometimes amusingly so. But this is important work.”
Covenant connection
Snodgrass has always felt at home among different traditions, especially in his relationship with the . He is an ordained minister in the Southern Baptist Convention, but he and his wife Phyllis attend a Covenant church, and he adds, “On my resume, where it says ‘denomination,’ I put ‘Southern Baptist and Covenant.’”
Not only has Snodgrass helped mold multiple generations of Covenant pastors at North Park, he has also been entrusted by the Evangelical Covenant Church to help shape many of the denomination’s positions on theological issues.
“He is one of the most trusted voices and leaders in the denomination, and that’s not an exaggeration,” says Dean Kersten. “He’s written for us on the role of women in ministry, on , and one of the most significant papers he wrote for the Church was a . It does more to explain our ethos and how we do faith and do church than maybe any other document.”
Who am I going to be?
Phelan, who himself has taught at North Park for nearly two decades, credits Snodgrass’s lasting influence on the Seminary. “Klyne has not only been a superb scholar and teacher, he has been a dear friend and mentor to hundreds of students and scores of faculty. He has had a hand in shaping so many of us that his influence will endure for decades to come.”
In addition to continuing to coordinate the Symposium, Snodgrass will teach as an adjunct professor at the Seminary beginning in Fall 2015. But other than that, the next steps for him and Phyllis are somewhat unclear. They may spend more time in the South near family, admitting he was never a real fan of the Chicago cold. “I will keep doing the kinds of things I do: writing and teaching,” Snodgrass says. “I’m a teacher. It’s who I am. But nobody tells you how to do this retirement thing. So you’ve got to figure out how God is leading you at this point in your life. You’ve got to ask again, ‘Who am I going to be?’”
This year’s Symposium will be livestreamed in its entirety at beginning on Thursday, September 25, at 7:00 pm. The Festschrift in honor of Dr. Snodgrass will be available for purchase in November.
Record Enrollment for Traditional Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
Dr. Matthew Schau, professor of biology, lectures in the new Johnson Center for Science and Community Life
Commitment to science education and student engagement among keys to success
CHICAGO (September 24, 2014) – 萝莉社 announced this week record enrollment for and . The total of 1,955 traditional undergraduate students, an increase of 30 students over last year, and 26 more than the previous record in 2011, is a testament to North Park’s commitment to science education, as well as the University’s emphasis on intercultural learning opportunities. The total enrollment for North Park for the fall semester is 3,193.
“The ability for North Park to attract a record traditional undergraduate and graduate enrollment, at a time when enrollment in higher education nationally is a challenge, demonstrates the strength of North Park’s mission and vitality of our education program,” said University President Dr. David Parkyn. The University again appeared in the top tier of regional universities in U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 edition of its annual "" rankings.
North Park’s demonstrated its commitment to science education with the launch of new undergraduate majors this year in , , and , as well as the opening of the . University officials also attribute fall’s record traditional undergraduate enrollment to an increased focus on caring for North Park’s current students, with new initiatives within the , including from the Career Development and Internships Office. Nearly 90 percent of last year’s students, excluding graduating seniors, returned for fall.
“Having the largest traditional undergraduate population in 萝莉社’s history is incredibly exciting, and gives us strong momentum for even more growth,” said Dr. Jodi Koslow Martin, vice president of student engagement. “What North Park does well is what students and families are looking for—a quality of education with accomplished faculty and staff who care for students. An engaging learning environment both inside and outside the classroom enables students to thrive as they work towards their degree, as well as draws new students to the community of 萝莉社.”
Graduate enrollment reaches new heights
North Park’s graduate programs achieved record enrollment of 758 students, eclipsing 2011’s record of 728. This includes a record 395 students in the , in addition to a record 196 students in the master of science in nursing program in the . In addition, the School of Adult Learning successfully launched its first graduate program, welcoming 22 students into the master of arts in counseling psychology.
“The School of Business and Nonprofit Management is delighted to welcome a record number of students to our graduate programs this fall,” said Dean Wesley Lindahl. “We have built a strong reputation in the nonprofit management field, where we are a leader in the Chicagoland area. In addition, our relationship with national organizations, including the , continues to draw future leaders from across the country to North Park.”
萝莉社 has offered business programs since the late 1800s, and currently awards five master’s degrees and 17 graduate certificates, many of them online and at multiple locations.
The School of Nursing and Health Sciences has been preparing leaders in health care since 1965. In undergraduate and graduate programs, nursing courses and faculty uphold a caring philosophy that reflects a commitment to a culture of nursing excellence grounded in the compassion of Christ.
“In North Park’s 123-year history, we stand at a critical juncture,” Parkyn added. “This enrollment news confirms that the momentum we’ve built over the past few years is the right direction for our institution. We now have the responsibility to continue to move forward and dream of new ways to build upon our foundation of preparing students for lives of significance and service.”
University Convocation Honors North Park Faculty and Staff
Under the direction of Dr. Julia Davids, the University Choir performed at this year's University Convocation service. The choir will be on tour this fall, October 17–19, in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Ceremony includes recognition of scholarly works and installation of interim administrators
CHICAGO (September 23, 2014) — The 萝莉社 community gathered in Anderson Chapel on Monday, September 22, for its University Convocation, an annual ceremony that honors the achievements of faculty and staff.
“I have a handful of favorite days of the year here at North Park, and this day is certainly one of them,” said University President Dr. David Parkyn. “Often we think of teaching and learning and it is focused on students. But today we flip the classroom, flip the recognition, and focus on faculty and staff who are committed to pursuing their calling at North Park.”
The ceremony announced newly promoted and tenured faculty, and recognized faculty and staff who have recently published books, articles, and other scholarly and creative work, including plays, reviews, recordings, staged exhibitions, art installations, and other performances. .
Dr. Jodi Koslow Martin, vice president of student engagement, along with Parkyn, led the installation of two interim administrators, , interim provost, and Neale Murray, interim associate provost. “We need the expertise and skills, the passion, and the commitment you bring to this place,” Parkyn said. “We are thankful you have chosen to serve with us and we commit to be your colleagues.”
The each performed during the ceremony, both under the direction of Dr. Julia Davids, director of choral activities, who was also recognized for her promotion to associate professor in the School of Music.
Faculty promotions celebrated include:
– professor of theology and ethics
– associate professor of music
– associate professor of business administration
– professor of chemistry, tenure
– professor of music, tenure
– assistant professor of biology, tenure
– professor of English, tenure
– professor of psychology, tenure
– associate professor of exercise and sport, tenure
– professor of church growth and evangelism
– professor of biology
– associate professor of psychology, tenure
– associate professor of biblical and theological studies, tenure
Nancy and Dr. Tim Johnson accepted the honor of cutting the ribbon at Friday’s Johnson Center dedication ceremony.
萝莉社 dedicates Johnson Center for Science and Community Life
CHICAGO (September 18, 2014) 鈥� On Friday, September 12, a large crowd gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the campus green in front of the new . 鈥淕ood friends, we have anticipated for a long time this historic event in our life together at North Park,鈥� University President Dr. David Parkyn said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to get out your cameras to capture this moment.鈥�
It has been two years since the groundbreaking for the Johnson Center, and fundraising for this next chapter of 萝莉社 began well before that with , North Park鈥檚 . Many people who played a crucial role in bringing the building to a reality, including alumni, students, staff, and friends of the University, were on hand to witness a collection of moments from this weekend鈥檚 dedication.
The first of those began earlier Friday, with the Medicine and Media Symposium in Anderson Chapel. Dr. G. Timothy Johnson, alumnus and co-chair of Campaign North Park, led a panel that included his former colleague, ABC News anchor Charles Gibson, and former dean of Harvard Medical School Dr. Joseph Martin. The three thought leaders discussed a variety of topics, including the role of media in health care, the state of health care in this country, and predictions for its future. The camaraderie between the three was evident. Gibson noted that it is a great honor to have a building named after you, but a university does itself a service by choosing to honor individuals as great as . “They are two of the finest people I have ever known,鈥� Gibson said.
(Top) Dr. Tim Johnson, Charles Gibson, and Dr. Joseph Martin at Friday’s symposium. (Center) Dr. Jonathan Rienstra-Kiracofe talks about new science technology with community members during Saturday’s Open House. (Bottom) Dr. Johnson lectures in the Johnson Center’s new Hendrickson Lecture Hall on Monday morning.
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After the symposium, the crowd moved to the campus green in front of the Johnson Center for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Carl Balsam, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and the two co-chairs of Campaign North Park, David S. Helwig and Dr. Johnson, spoke of the many pieces that were vital to the success of the project. Mary Surridge, vice president of development and alumni relations, affirmed the campaign鈥檚 鈥減romise to ensure the educational and spiritual advancement of North Park鈥檚 mission.鈥� Parkyn then announced to the crowd as the Johnsons cut through the blue and yellow ribbon: 鈥淚 am deeply pleased to declare the Johnson Center for Science and Community Life to be officially open for learning.鈥�
Moments like this continued throughout the weekend, including a festival following the ribbon cutting, and a dinner for President鈥檚 Club members in Hamming Hall. At the dinner, Parkyn told the story of the dedication of Old Main, the first building on campus, 120 years ago this month. North Park鈥檚 leaders spoke then of 鈥渁 work just beginning,鈥� and Parkyn urged the crowd to 鈥渃ast our vision beyond the horizon鈥� and see North Park as still 鈥渁 work just beginning.鈥� Parkyn added, 鈥淭onight is a turning point in the history of North Park. The University stands taller today than she has ever stood, because today she stands on your shoulders.鈥�
On Saturday, the Johnson Center was opened to the public for a Community Open House, with guided tours for alumni, students, and the surrounding community, as well as an event for thirty-five prospective students. Among the group gathered to catch a glimpse of the new building was another set of Johnsons: alumni Anders and Samantha, and future North Parker, three-year-old Bjorn. “We’ve watched the building go up from the time it was just a hole in the ground,鈥� said Anders. 鈥淭ogether with the library and the green space, this is a further extension of the growth and beauty, as well as the educational opportunities, at North Park. So many of our friends and classmates went on to become doctors. For a small school, North Park makes a pretty significant contribution.”
On Monday morning, Johnson returned the focus of the new building to its core mission of educating North Park鈥檚 students with a lecture to undergraduates from across the University. Johnson reflected on his journey from North Park through the medical and media fields. 鈥淵ou are sitting here today and you might have a pretty good idea what you鈥檙e going to do,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 want you to label that blueprint 鈥楾o Be Announced.鈥� You will make decisions that will lead you in a number of different directions. You will get a great education while you are here. And hear me when I say, don鈥檛 be afraid of the future.鈥�
Johnson Center Provides Best Equipment and State-of-the-Art Technology, Transforms Lab Management Program
The Johnson Center includes 40 Smart classrooms and laboratories to enhance teaching and learning.
CHICAGO, IL (September 12, 2014) 鈥� When Chicago鈥檚 萝莉社 conceived the new , they utilized 鈥渂ig-picture鈥� thinking to ensure that the science faculty had strong input in the design process. The faculty worked closely with the architects and the lab planners to make the new facility 鈥渢he very best it could possibly be,鈥� said , professor and chair of the , who served as lead faculty liaison on the project.
From proper ventilation needs, cutting edge audio and visual technology, to ensuring every lab is ADA compliant for wheelchair accessibility, the $45 million building, which is , features more than $850,000 in state-of-the-art science equipment. Laboratories were designed for many disciplines of study including molecular genetics, zoology, microscopy, laser spectroscopy, and anatomy鈥攊ncluding a cadaver lab.
Faculty and staff worked closely with HERA (Health Education and Research Associates) to do an initial assessment of what laboratory and classroom spaces were needed. 鈥淭he Johnson Center for Science and Community Life is a complete experience for students,鈥� said Rienstra-Kiracofe, who has been at 萝莉社 since 2007. 鈥淭he facility is packed with smart classrooms that are truly among the best any school has to offer, with each classroom equipped with HDTVs, interactive TVs, writable screens, lecture capture, and wireless display capabilities.鈥� Indeed, Vernier Technologies, which supplied much of the lab equipment said they know of “only one other university in the nation who has put together labs of this caliber,鈥� according to Rienstra-Kiracofe.
The Johnson Center also offers fully modern laboratory spaces for biology, chemistry, and physics. 鈥淢any of the lab spaces are also equipped with smart classroom AV technology, creating smart labs. The smart lab technology can interface with lab equipment at each student’s bench, creating interactive smart鈥攐r 鈥榮uper-smart鈥欌�攍abs that are unparalleled virtually anywhere in the nation.鈥�
Chemistry professor Dr. Isabel Larraza sets up the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) machine in the Johnson Center.
Equipment purchases even included a (NMR) machine which is an analytical chemistry technique used in for determining molecular structure. Often used in graduate study or in industry, having an NMR machine in the classroom is rare for a school of North Park鈥檚 size.
With a strong emphasis on safety, the new equipment and facility has allowed the University to totally transform its lab management program as well, including the creation of a new Chemical Hygiene Officer/Lab Safety Officer (CHO/LSO) position, making North Park鈥檚 science programs safe and environmentally responsible.
As a rule-of-thumb, academic science labs are generally updated every 40 years. 鈥淲e had a 鈥榳ish list鈥� and a vast majority of what we wanted to accomplish was achieved,鈥� Rienstra-Kiracofe said. 鈥淲e paid attention to make sure the space, facility, and infrastructure were built to incorporate changes for the future as well.鈥�
That sentiment was echoed by , the North Park alumnus for whom the building was named, who said, 鈥淥bviously, the knowledge and skill base in the sciences is constantly exploding with new developments. So while the new science building at North Park is currently 鈥榮tate of the art,鈥� the building will have to be constantly updated to meet new challenges in teaching and research. However, the current core science faculty is outstanding and will, I am sure, be up to the task of keeping North Park’s science programs up to date in the years ahead.鈥�
For more information about Dedication Celebration activities for the Johnson Center, September 12 and 13, 2014, including ribbon-cutting, a community open house, and a Medicine & Media Symposium featuring Dr. Johnson, ABC鈥檚 Charles Gibson, and Dr. Joseph Martin, . Both the symposium and ribbon-cutting ceremonies will also be available to watch online at .
Dedication and Community Open House to Celebrate Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life
The Johnson Center at 萝莉社
CHICAGO, IL (September 11, 2014) — 萝莉社, on Chicago’s North Side, announces the opening of the $45 million . The three-story, 101,000-square-foot building is , incorporating a number of sustainable elements both in its construction and use.
The Johnson Center was named after who “exemplify North Park’s dedication to ‘educating students for lives of significance and service,’” according to University president, Dr. David Parkyn.
Dr. G. Timothy Johnson served as chief medical editor for ABC News from 1984 to 2010, and became one of America’s best-known physicians, providing award-winning on-air medical analysis on Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline, and 20/20. He still serves as senior medical correspondent for ABC News. Nancy Johnson trained as a nurse at the Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing, which included completing science courses at North Park.
commenced in October 2012 after a successful development effort, which included more than 11,000 donors, and construction was completed in August 2014. The Johnson Center was designed by longtime architectural partner to the University, , and built by .
The Smart technology in the classrooms and laboratories, including lecture-capture capabilities, real-time sharing of data for collaboration and group activity, HDTV interactive SmartPodiums, and wireless airplay from iPads. Every lab is ADA compliant for wheelchair accessibility, and the building features more than $850,000 in state-of-the-art science equipment, plus areas for many disciplines of study including molecular genetics, zoology, microscopy, and anatomy—with a cadaver lab.
The new equipment and facility have allowed the University to totally transform the lab management program, making it "safe and environmentally responsible," according to , professor and chair of the , who was lead faculty liaison for the Johnson Center design charrettes. These charrettes provided input to the building design from 萝莉社 faculty, staff, students, and board members. Dr. Rienstra-Kiracofe will also teach a class in environmental chemistry utilizing some of the building-specific LEED technology.
The Johnson Center merges the concepts of student life with science, and also houses all aspects of at the University, including , , Student Success, the , and .
The design provides a variety of , including “pods” to support student/faculty research and discussion, a balcony and student lounge overlooking the first floor entryway, Bickner Bistro with Einstein Bros Bagels, three seating areas with a fireplace, and seminar and conference rooms with catering capabilities for on-site events. There is also a dedicated Prayer Room, which features a cross and bench hand-crafted in a symbolic gesture of “transformation” using wood from a Mulberry tree that was removed prior to construction of the building.
are schedule for September 12 and 13, 2014, including ribbon-cutting, a community open house and a Medicine & Media Symposium featuring Dr. Johnson, ABC’s Charles Gibson, and Dr. Joseph Martin. The symposium and ribbon cutting will also be available to watch online at .
Sustainability a Priority at 萝莉社 Johnson Center for Science and Community Life
Sustainability features include a “green roof” on the Johnson Center for Science and Community Life, which not only promotes stewardship but provides a real-life laboratory for environmental science students at 萝莉社.
CHICAGO, IL (September 9, 2014) 鈥� When the new was being conceived as an integral part of 萝莉社鈥檚 campus, sustainability was a critically important component to the overall design and use of the building. North Park worked closely with longtime architectural partner, VOA Associates Inc., to conceive what has been designed to achieve Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, which establishes criteria for the construction of sustainable buildings.
鈥淓nvironmental stewardship and sustainability within our urban campus setting was one of our main objectives,鈥� said Carl Balsam, executive vice president and chief financial officer of 萝莉社.
LEED-certified buildings are designed to lower operating costs, reduce waste sent to landfills during construction and operation, conserve energy and water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase asset value. Utilizing a LEED checklist of targeted sustainable solutions, 萝莉社 was able to provide the best environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, while also minimizing waste, reducing toxins, lowering potential energy bills and operating costs, and achieving healthier indoor air quality.
Throughout the design process, participants in design charrettes鈥攚hich included scientists, faculty, staff and administrators, and students鈥攇ave input to the architectural team for the design of a building that would create a space for all students, optimize outdoor space and daylight, as well as meet sustainability goals. That design is evident in the two-story atrium, and lobby, which encourages gathering and social interaction.
A number of sustainable solutions were implemented throughout design and construction phases. The Johnson Center is on track to achieve LEED Gold status. The sustainable points achieved as regulated by LEED include Sustainable Site; Water Efficiency; Energy and Atmosphere; Materials and Resources; Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation and Design Process.
Uniquely, many aspects of the Johnson Center LEED certification will be studied and taught as part of the and curriculum at North Park. Specifically, the “Introduction to Environmental Science” class taught by and the “Environmental Chemistry” taught by will study the various components that comprise the Johnson Center’s LEED Gold status, such as the green roof and energy efficiency and sustainable technologies.
Storm water runoff was abated utilizing a green roof, storm water collection, retention and re-use, and vegetated detention areas. Native and adaptive landscaping will help reduce irrigation needs. In addition to the green roof, high albedo, white thermoplastic roof membrane was used to reduce heat absorption and minimize the urban heat island effect.
Because 萝莉社鈥檚 urban location provides easy access to multiple public transportation options, exemplary transit related LEED credits were obtained.
about the Johnson Center building, including . For more information about 萝莉社鈥檚 Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life dedication celebration September 12 and 13, visit .
Application Period Open for Axelson Center’s Annual Nonprofit Management Awards
CHICAGO (September 8, 2014) — Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 and the 2015 —two annual honors presented by the at 萝莉社 to Chicago-area nonprofit organizations.
The Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence recognizes nonprofits serving the seven-county Chicago region who exemplify outstanding nonprofit management practices. Applicants are evaluated for their strength in the Hallmarks of Nonprofit Managerial Excellence℠: mission and program; leadership and governance; strategy and innovation; human resources; financial strength and performance; resource generation and external relations; and accountability and integrity.
The Alford-Axelson Award is named for the leadership and legacies of Nils G. Axelson, a devoted community health care leader and visionary, and Jimmie R. Alford, a leading contemporary thinker and practitioner in the nonprofit arena. Winners of the 2015 Alford-Axelson Award will receive a cash prize of at least $5,000. include Chicago Community Loan Fund and Literature for All of Us (2014); Concordia Place and Between Friends (2013); and Center on Halsted and Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation (2012).
“Nonprofit organizations that win the Alford-Axelson award have demonstrated their ability not only to deliver programs and services, but to manage and lead their organizations in ways that contribute to overall sustainability,” said Pier Rogers, director of the Axelson Center. “A review committee comprised of nonprofit and civic leaders use the Hallmarks of Nonprofit Managerial Excellence to assess the organization’s management and leadership. Emerging as a winner after such scrutiny is a major accomplishment, which many of the past winners have proudly shared with their donors and other constituents.”
. Organizations interested in applying are also strongly encourage to submit an prior to completing the application.
The Excellent Emerging Organization Award is presented to an up-and-coming nonprofit serving the Chicago region that shows its leadership through financial stability, sound management practices, strategic vision, and innovation in its programs and service delivery. Past winners include Waukegan to College (2014), Porchlight Conseling Services (2013), and Empowerment through Education and Exposure (2012).
“The Excellent Emerging Organization Award’s past winners demonstrate that small, new organizations can move towards nonprofit excellence,” said Rogers. “Having limited resources doesn’t negate the possibility of getting started on the right track with a vision of excellence and sustainability.”
The winner of the 2015 Excellent Emerging Organization Award will receive a $2,500 cash prize sponsored by MB Financial Bank and a capacity-building package that will support improvement of services and efficiency. . Organizations interested in applying are also strongly encouraged to submit an prior to completing the application.
The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at 萝莉社 is the source for informative and engaging nonprofit professional development in the Chicago region. Through , an , and an , the Axelson Center delivers a superior educational experience for nonprofit leaders, volunteers and frontline staff, covering a vast array of topics from program evaluation to strategic planning, and communications to financial management. The valuable information presented through these programs enhances the impact of both the nonprofit sector and its professional staff. Visit for more information, including a full schedule of upcoming programs.
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